Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-01-20

The legislation heretofo enacted. There remains
at the present time In the fund. as the same
stands upon the books Of the Secretary of State
the sum OF S2,06746. All Of this sum has been
retained for trespass that has been committed
upon lands claimed by the State as swamp.
The disbursements from the Governors Contin.
gent fund 10 December g. 1886, were S2,079 20
and the balance TO the credit Of the fund on that
day was 80 e562l recommend the usual appro
priation OF 5000 per year.
ACCOUNT WITH THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
have the pleasure of reporting to the Legisla
ture that all OF the account known as the war tax
levied against the State of Wisconsin, amounting
70 S5l9 81, has been paid, and that the United
States owes, upon the settlement TO the State OF
Wisconsin SS4o9.43, and some Of the old claims
are still pending upon which il Is hoped 10 receive
additional allowances. When assumed the dli
ties of Executive there was S207 GS5. 10 standing
against the State. This amount has been paid By
credits wi 4 were allowed the State upon the
REIMBURSEMENT OF our claims against the general
government for war purposes, for swamp land
indemnity, and for five per centum of the sales Of
public lands prior to June 90th, 1882.
The whole amount OF the war tax, in my judg
ment, should be refunded to the several States
measure is now pending before Congress- to re
imburse the several States 3y repaying such a.
have paid and creditins such as have not paid
II this should PASS, Wisconsin will receive Ssh
oSS.S7, out es which the school and swamp lanG
funds could be reimbursed for the amounts di-
verted from those funds, and the balance paid
into the general fund. / would recommend that
measure
have also collected the five per centum on the
sales Of public lands FOR 1888, amounting 70
1921, 20j q. and on account Of swamp land In
demnty S33S %, all Of which has been paid into
the state Treasury. / expect to be able to collect
from these sources for the years 1884, 1885 and
1856, 500, 600 more.
CHARITABLE AND PRIMAL INSTITUTIONS.
The report Of the State Board Of Supervision
presents q very fun and satisfactory showing re-
garding the management OF the State Institutions
under Tvs care. The total amount expended by
the Board during the biennial term ending Sep
tember 80, 1886, was S135, COS 90. OF the amount
appropriated two years ago for the maintenance
and support Of the six charitable and penal in
stitutions s5S, 900 has been unexpended, and VIII
be returned into the Treasury. During the two
years ending nst September, the total number of
persons cared for in all the State institutions was
4, 076 against g. III for the previous biennial term
Although there has been an increase OF 355 in the
number Of persons cared for, the current eN-
penses for the biennial term ending September
80, 1885, were Sl23l337 less than for the cores
pondng term ending September 3D. 1884, Whls
there has been an average decrease in the per
capita cost OF managing the institutions, the
weekly average for 1885 being So 10, the lowest
ever reached, there has been no curtaiment, but
rather an enlargement of the amount of neces-
sary supplies furnished.
The State Hospital for the Insane for 1885, cost
S94,547, and for 1885, i206, the weekly per cap
tia cost falling Off from So % in 1886 10 S3.i5 in
1885 The appropriation asked for by the Boarl
Tor the next TWO years IS Sll4u1ltU over ana
above S4,s72 per year, which viii be received
from the counties, and the estimated surplus of
$4,000 from the last appropriation.
The Northern Hospital for the Insane cost for
SfCe SOP IS; decreasing the weekly per capita cost
50 73 in 1885 50 - in 1856. The Board Of super
for this institution for .S1 a1d 1883 will be Sl3l
2SS, besides the estimated surplus Of $4,000 from
the appropriation two years ago, and $4,000,
which viii oe received each year from the couu-
ties.
The School FOR the Def has a surplus o.
5000 from the last appropriation, and the Boar
estimates that $4,000 will DE req ired to support
the school for tae coming tSO years. Inr rN-
penses for 1885 were S31.5S5 30, and Tor 1888 $50
04307 The population has decreased frou .05
in 1885 10 1856 IN 1851 the Increase in cost Tel x
chargeable to extra improvements about the
buildings by renewals. and by making the corps
of teat hers stronger than ever tor the purpose
of meeting the demand for more thorough in.
instruction in the oral department.
The School for the Blind cost the State Sl9,-
49I.S0 ia 1885, and S7, 4Sf3j in 1856 The average
attendance in 1885 was ~ and IN 1886 it had in
fell off from S. 03 in 1885 10 $500 in 1886 IL will
be seen that the per capita cost is much greater
than In any other Of the charitable institutions,
owing to the fact that the attendance is unusually
small and also because the care and instruction
Of the blind are more expensive than for any
other class Of pupils The Board asks for an APP
dropriation OF Sii $50 for the biennial term,
which will enable It to make such needed
repairs as are necessary to keep the buildings IN
good condition.
The Industrial School for Boys Incurred an ex-
pense Of s45, 6l327 for 1888, and Sil, 1874 for
1856, the weekly per capita cost falling of from
So 90 in 1885, TO 2.G9 for last year. The annual
cost of the shops for material and labor is esti-
mated at Si2 600, but the sales therefrom Will an
nually meet this expenditure so that the total APP
Precipitation recommended by the board, for cur
rent expenses for the next Two years, is S144I3,
in addition to $4,000, which viii be received from
counties.
The State Prison had 443 inmates in 1885, and
45j in 1881 The total expense for the prison Tor
1885 S5i, 9it03 aud for 1885, S62, l63 40, the
increase being caused by substantial improve
ments and the establishment Of a hospital. The
receipts from convict labor were $40, 1851 in 1885,
and $50 5O747 in 1886, that the net cost OF the
prison to the State for the past two years, was
otly sl7, 2369.
The contract for the labor OF the convicts OF
the State Prison, under the system adopted some
years ago, will expire with the year 1887 Under
this contract the State furnishes the labor Of the
convcts by the hour, and retains the manage
ment and feeding Of the prisoners. Should the
Legislature determine 10 abolish the system now
in use some method should be provided for the
employment Of the inmates. 1t would be disas-
trous to the prisoners as well as the state, to I'M
dertake TO maintain them in idleness. They
should work. They should assist certainly in pay
ing the expenses of their keeping. As refor-
matory measure, also they should be employed.
- Each should produce according to his ability,
and receive according to his needs. As near as
practicable, they should be so employed that their
labor or products would not come IN competition
with free labor
The cost Of maintaining the prison during the
continuance of the present contract for the labor
will be about 500 800 Of which $40, 900 viii he re-
ceived from convict labor, making the appropria-
ton asked for by the Board 81, 800 for 1887.
Within the next two years the prison viii be
filed 10 its utmost capacity, and it would be Wis
dom on the part Of your honorable body 70 take
this question under consideration and, II 1t shall
De thought best to establish another prison, 70
consi Ter the suggestion Of the prison warden and
| ,he recommendation Of the Board, that the new
/ prison be set apart for the younger conycts com
United for the first offeuse with the hope that
such a prison would present the best conditions
4 Cor Ief0rmatory work, as the mixing OF criminals
# all ages and degrees OF crime is not calculated
/ 20 work reform among those VINO most need the
I wholesome Influence Of purely reformatory IL
stituliln.
1 Tbs State Pdllc School for Dependent and
I Neglected Children was established by authority
/ II chapter 81 Laws OF 1885, aud was located al
I sparta Thee buildinge were erected under the
state Board Of Supervision, and 50 far The l1ea
| ton and Improvements have cost S2i-5Jt. Inc
Board reports that the indications are that w.tilt
/ a few months the school buildings VIII be He'd tt
/ their utmost capacity
COUNTY AsYLrMs.
There are now organized. under the county
system, fifteen county asylums ana these
seem to be doing a good work " a sat
isfactory manner The danger Of this sys
4 tenn is the liability that an anxiety on the part
/ Of local managers and supetintendeuts 70 maze
/ an economical showing 70 their counties Wal
I frct - a